Police renew appeal 26 years after Oldbury murder on victim's 70th birthday - new footage released

Police have renewed their appeal for information into the unsolved murder of an Oldbury man, more than a quarter of a century after he was fatally stabbed at his home.

As part of the fresh appeal, officers have released previously unseen footage recorded on the day of the attack in the hope it will prompt new witnesses to come forward.

Zafar Mehdi was stabbed at his home on Basons Lane, Oldbury, at around 2pm on June 28, 2000. He suffered a single stab wound to the chest and collapsed between the hallway and living room.

He was taken to hospital by ambulance but died a short time later.

The renewed appeal coincides with what would have been Mr Mehdi's 70th birthday on Friday, July 10.

A woman was charged with his murder but was later found not guilty by a jury. Police said they respect that verdict and remain committed to identifying those responsible.

Investigators are continuing to seek information about two men who were seen arriving at the property in a white car shortly before the attack. They were seen making their way to the back door of the house before leaving in the same vehicle, prior to the stabbing being reported.

The pair were described as Black men aged between their mid-20s and early 30s, both of medium build. One was clean-shaven with short, straight hair and was wearing a black leather jacket and dark clothing. Witnesses said he had a Jamaican accent.

The second man was unshaven and wore a dark blue bandana covering his hair, along with dark clothing. He was reported to have had a Brummie accent.

The vehicle was described as similar to a 1989 Vauxhall Astra with a green private hire plate on the rear bumper.

Mr Mehdi's eldest daughter, Madonna, said the pain of losing her father remains as strong today as it was when he died.

She said: "June 28 still replays in my head like it was yesterday. Today would have been my father's 70th birthday.

"Losing my father was the hardest thing my family has ever gone through. We have had to endure the weight of this unsolved tragedy without justice.

"He was a very good man, well-loved in all communities. He helped so many people and always put others before himself.

"I plead for anyone who knows anything about the men who came to our home that day to do the right thing. Help our family get the answers we have waited so long for and bring those responsible to justice."

Detective Inspector Jim Church, from the force's homicide review team, said officers have continued working on the case over the past 26 years.

He said more than 900 witness statements have been taken and more than 1,000 exhibits recovered during the investigation, which has also been reviewed several times.

He added: "Zafar's children have had to grow up without their dad and have lived with the anguish of not knowing who took him away from them.

"More than a quarter of a century has passed, and friendships and allegiances change. Now is the time for those who know what happened to come forward and tell the truth, so that we can get justice for Zafar and his family."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police, quoting log 3171 of June 30.